Has anyone actually seen one of these in the US market? I read somewhere they would be released before the end of the month, but maybe that's not true. When should we expect them if they aren't already out?

As far as I know theres been no official announcement about any new products. You weren't thinking about the CES stuff were you? Theres a few articles but nothing else.

Wasn't this official? (Taken from this thread)

Seems that passed me by....

ok, so anyone know when this will actually be on store shelves?

yes I'd like to know as well... can anyone provide any insight as to when we'll see a release?? I've been holding out for the 4 gb version ever since the press release...

I don't think anyone has an answer to that.

Rob

Rats.. oh well, thanks for giving us the heads up Rob!

Well I sold someone on the 4GB Nitrus yesterday. And then a few minutes later the promise of the perfect gift evaporated when we noticed it wasn't commercially available yet.

Since I didn't catch the "release announcement," did it include a ballpark release date at all? Such as 1H 2004, or Q2 2004, etc?

Bruno

edit: Ok, read the full release. Ships in January. Oops. Not even a mention of it on the official site. The least that could (should) be done with a product that is supposed to have already been released is to have a product page up. This should go up when the press release hits the street. This isn't the right approach to take if anyone at Rio expects to take even the smallest fraction of marketshare away from Apple. Something that looks like it will not happen for the 4GB nor larger HD-based players.

> This isn't the right approach to take if anyone at Rio expects to take even the smallest fraction of marketshare away from Apple.

Yeah, the purchase of Rio doesn't seem to have helped make them a smarter or better company. The customer support appears to still suck and the complete lack of advertisment appears to be dooming the Karma and everything else they sell to obscurity, despite the fact that it is technically better. Reminds me of another product that Rio used to sell and failed because no-one knew about it. There is almost no buzz about Rio products at all, and that is a shame.

Its a shame. What would be ideal would be a combination of Apple's marketing guys and Rio's products. Quality products that the world knows about. Its always a shame when one area (marketing) can make or break a product no matter how good or bad it is.

BTW Rob, that reply wasn't particularly directed to you. I know how you must feel about the situation because I've been there myself. Heck, I'm there right now with a product. Though not something with the same mass-market appeal as the Nitrus.

Bruno